Drug Interactions

Drug Interactions
- Poly Drug Use:
- Use of 2 or more drugs at the same time
- Drug interaction:
- The presence of a drug alters the action of another drug

1. Additive Interactions:
- Effects created when drugs are similar & sum together
- 2 + 3 = 5
- Example: Alcohol & Marijuana

2. Antagonistic Interactions:
- Effects created when drugs cancel one another
- Example: alcohol & cocaine
- Some drink alcohol to curb the withdrawal effects of cocaine
- The combination enhances euphoria, as well as the cardiovascular toxicity of coke
- The presence of both alcohol & cocaine in the body forms cocaethylene
- Since both substances can damage the liver, their toxic effects are summed
- Cardiovascular stress is substantially enhanced

3. Synergism:
- The ability of one drug to enhance the effect of another
- 2 + 3 = 8
- Example: alcohol & valium
- Depressants taken together cause CNS functions to become impaired
- Vital functions such as breathing & heartbeat can become severely impaired

A Day in the Life of a UCSB Drug User
- Four questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to take a drug:
1. Whats in my system now, whats it doing, & how long will it be there?
2. What am I proposing to put into my system & what will it do with the other drug on board?
3. How long will the new substance affect me?
4. Ultimately, what am I seeking to get from the experience?

A Day in the Life: Poly Drug Use
- LSD:
- Poly drug use is common with LSD due to long lasting effects & the energy it provides
1. Assume no other drugs are on board
2. LSD/no drugs to interact with
3. Approx 6-12 hours
4. Student wants to hike in butterfly forest while hallucinating
- 45 min after taking LSD, user wants to smoke a bowl of marijuana.

- Marijuana:
1. LSD already in system for 45min- euphoria, mild hallucinations, & 5-11 hours to go
2. THC (mild hallucinogens) targets same brain area as LSD- synergistic effects
3. Probably 30-45 min
4. Sparks the intense portion of LSD experience- LSD will come on stronger & quicker
- 1 hit of LSD & 1 bong rip can be same as 2 hits of LSD for as long as the THC is in effect
- 2 hours into experience, tripping hard, user wants a cigarette..



- Tobacco:
1. A) LSD, causing hallucinations, heart rate little fast, another 4-10 hours
B) Marijuana, although effects have diminished, drug still on board
2. Nicotine (stimulant) will have additive or synergistic effects on cardiovascular stress
3. Very short acting
4. I was curious
- User smokes several cigarettes continually because LSD inhibits your brains feedback mechanisms
- User heads home after 5 hours and starts pre-partying for the coming night

- Alcohol:
1. LSD, THC, nicotine (effects of LSD dont seem to be wearing off)
2. Ethanol (CNS depressant) heart, visuals, & thoughts will slow down
3. Long lasting 1 hour per drink
4. User wants to get drunk
- User drinks like a champ because of the inhibition of feedback mechanisms from LSD
- Better chance of alcohol poisoning because your body doesnt know when to stop
- User finds friends doing coke & wants a line

- Cocaine:
1. LSD, THC, nicotine, ethanol
2. Cocaine hydrochloride (strong stimulant) will up the trip
3. 20-40min
4. User wants to prolong experience
- Come-down from cocaine can go one of 2 ways
- Case 1- stimulated state of mind in effects nullifies the come down
- Case 2- the come down provides a rather negative setting which can be psychologically dangerous
for an LSD trip

- Typical poly drug use thought to help manipulate LSD comedown:
- THC:
- Will prolong effect of LSD
- Can even cause effects to return
- Ethanol:
- Can shorten comedown by suppressing CNS activity
- Can relax muscle tension caused by adulterants in LSD
- Benzodiazepines:
- Valium, Rohypnol, Xanax

Poly Drug Use
- LSD + MDMA (candy flipping):
- If taken at the same time- trip will be effected by both with LSD effects lasting longer
- MDMA is amphetamine bases hallucinogen
- LSD & MDMA has synergistic effects
- Very intense, long-lasting experience
- Theory of candy-flipping:
- MDMA creates a good setting for LSD, resulting in a LSD trip without anxiety
- LSD + psilocybin:
- Both tryptamines
- Very synergistic
- MDMA + ethanol:
- Synergistic toxicity on liver
- Each inhibits the effects of the other
- Antagonistic effect
- Reminder:
- In general, poly drug use is very unpredictable
- It is hard enough for pharmacologist to obtain permission to research illicit drugs & their interaction with
each other
- Research your options & consult a professional in the case of any doubts
- Dont forget the 4 questions:
1. Whats in my system now, whats it doing, & how long will it be there?
2. What am I proposing to put into my system & what will it do with the other drug on board?
3. How long will the new substance affect me?
4. Ultimately, what am I seeking to get from the experience?